Detachable coupling for a vacuum cleaner hose



Sept. 6, 1960 E. R. CARLBERG 2,951,714

DETACHABLE COUPLING FOR A VACUUM CLEANER HOSE Filed Nov. 25, 1957ATTORNEY United rates DETACHABLE COUPLING FOR A VACUUM CLEANER HOSE ErikReinhold Carlberg, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to AktiebolagetElectrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Nov. 25,1957, Ser. No. 698,704

Claims priority, application Sweden Nov. 29, 1956 ZClaims. (Cl. 285-7)The present invention relates to a coupling device and more particularlyto a coupling especially adapted for detachably connecting a hose to avacuum cleaner casing.

One of the objects of the present invention is to pro vide an improvedcoupling of the type indicated which facilitates the attachment of aflexible hose to and detachment of the hose from a vacuum cleanercasing.

Another object is to provide a coupling of the type indicated whichpermits a plug attachment on the hose to rock out of the socket in avacuum cleaner casing upon release of a single detent.

Another object is to provide a coupling of the type indicated having anenclosing sheath of a flexible impervious material to provide a dustcover while permitting manual release of the latching detents.

Another object is to provide a coupling of the type indicated which isof simple and compact construction, reliable in operation and adaptedfor economical manufacture.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the followingdescription and drawing in which like reference characters denote likeparts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only andnot a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had forthis purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner casing and hoseattached thereto by a coupling incorporating the novel features of thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the coupling showing the mannerin which the hose may be detached from the casing by releasing a singledetent;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the coupling showing the plugattachment on the hose latched in a socket in the vacuum cleaner casing;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View of one side of the coupling toshow the construction of the interlocking detents on the plug attachmenton the hose and socket inthe casing; and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the plug attachment on the hose toshow the relationship of one of the detents with respect to the taperedring flange.

Figure 1 of the drawing illustrates a vacuum cleaner casing and hose 11connected thereto by a coupling 12 incorporating the novel features ofthe present invention. It will be understood that the vacuum cleanercasing 10 mounts a fan therein for producing a partial vacuum at the airinlet opening 13 at one end of the casing to which the hose 11 isattached by the coupling 12; and that the casing has a similar airoutlet opening at its opposite end to which the hose 11 may be attachedwhen a blowing operation is required. It will also be understood thatthe opposite end of the hose "ice 11 will be connected to a cleaningnozzle or other appliance in a conventional manner.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the air inlet opening 13 is positionedcentrally in an end plate 14 on the vacuum cleaner casing 10. End plate14 is in the form of a detachable cover to provide access to a filterbag 15 mounted in the casing 10 rearwardly of the air inlet opening 13.The filter bag 15 has a rim 16 overlying an annular seat 17 on a ringflange 18 attached to the periphery of the casing 10. An annular gasket19 on cover plate 14 engages the rim 16 of the filter bag 15 to clamp itagainst the seat 17 of the ring flange 18 and seal the joint between thecover and casing. The open mouth of the filter bag 15 is then positionedto receive all air flowing through the hose 11 and air inlet opening 13and the bag filters the dirt therefrom. Cover plate 14 may be removablysecured to the vacuum cleaner casing 10 by any suitable fastening meanssuch as that disclosed in the United States Letters Patent to LundvallNo. 1,944,291. The air outlet opening from the vacuum cleaner casing 10to which the hose 11 may be interchangeably connected is identical inconstruction with the air inlet opening 13 so that the followingdescription directed to the air inlet opening is intended to apply alsoto the air outlet opening.

In accordance with the present invention the coupling 12 comprises aplug attachment 20 at the end of the hose 11 and a socket 21 in thecasing 10 for receiving the plug. The plug attachment 20 and socket 21are so constructed and arranged as to facilitate the attachment of thehose 11 to and the detachment of the hose from the casing 10. To thisend, the socket 21 which surrounds the air inlet opening 13 in thecasing 10 has an annular locking shoulder 22 projecting inwardlytherefrom. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular locking shoulder22 is in the form of a relatively thin sheet metal flange. The flange 22projects inwardly from the forward end of a tubular fitting 23, seeFigures 3 and 4, which has an outwardly directed radial flange 2 at itsopposite end projecting into a recess in the cover 14. The tubularfitting 23 is so positioned in the socket 21 that the inwardly directedannular locking shoulder 22 is positioned in substantial alignment withthe forward face of the socket.

The plug 20 of the coupling 12 is attached to the end of the hose 11 andhas a forwardly projecting end adapted for interchangeable insertion insockets 21 surrounding the air inlet and outlet openings in the vacuumcleaner casing 143. As illustrated in Figure 3, the plug attachment 2%)comprises an inner forwardly projecting tubular member 26 whichsurrounds the end of the hose, a ring flange 27 at its forward end andspring pressed detents 28 and 29 projecting from the ring flange forlatching engagement with the annular locking shoulder 22 in the socket21.

The rearward end of the tubular member 26 surrounds the end portion ofhose 11 for a substantial distance and this portion of the member isslightly tapered. A ring 3% at the interior of hose 11 cooperates withthe tapered portion of the tubular member 26 to tightly clamp the end ofthe hose therebetween. Forwardly of the tapered portion, the tubularmember 26 has an inwardly directed annular shoulder overlying the end ofthe hose with a cylindrical portion 32 of substantially the same insidediameter as the hose extending forwardly from the shoulder. The ringflange 27 may be formed as an integral part of the tubular member 26 oras a separate part attached thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, thering flange 27 is formed as a separate part having an inner annular Wallseated in a recess at the outer end of the cylindrical portion 32 of thetubular member 26. Ring flange 27 projects outwardly and rearwardly fromthe forward end of the tubular member 26 in spaced relation to thecylindrical portion 32 to provide an annular opening 33 therebetween.Thus, the ring flange 27 at the forward end of the plug attachment 20provides a forwardly inclined end to facilitate insertion into andremoval from the socket 21. As illustrated, the forwardly inclined endof the ring flange 27 has a conical taper, but may have a roundedspherical surface.

The spring pressed detents 28 and 29 are mounted at the outer free endsof spring fingers 34 and 35 positioned at opposite sides of the tubularmember 26 and extending longitudinally thereof. The rearward ends ofspring fingers 34 and 35 are attached to the rearward end of tubularmember 26, as by means of rivets 36, and the forward ends of the springfingers and detents 28 and 29 thereon project into the annular opening33 between the end of the cylindrical portion 32 and overlying ringflange 27. As will be observed by reference to Figure 3, the springfingers 34 and 35 are bowed outwardly from the tubular member 26 betweentheir ends and follow the general contour of the inner tubular member 26in spaced relation thereto. Fingers 34 and 35 have outwardly projectingflat bosses 37 intermediate their ends to provide finger actuating knobsfor depressing the springs.

Each of the detents 28 and 29, arranged at opposite sides of the plugattachment 20, comprises a latching shoulder projecting radially fromthe end of its spring finger 34 or 35 through a slotted opening 38 inthe ring flange 27. The detents 28 and 29 also have inclined cam faces39 projecting forwardly from the outer edge ofthe latching shoulder tothe outer surface of the ring flange 27. In the illustrated embodimentthe latching shoulders of the detents 28 and 29 and the cam faces 39 areformed as an integral part of the spring fingers 34 or 35 by bending thefree end portions of the spring fingers upwardly and folding triangularshaped wings forwardly from the sides of the upwardly bent flanges.Thus, the detent 28, as illustrated in Figure 5, comprises a sheet metalflange of generally U-shaped contour projecting outwardly through acorrespondingly shaped U- shaped slot in the ring flange 27.

Surrounding the plug attachment 20 of the coupling 12 is a tubularsheath 40 composed of a relatively soft resilient material such asplastic or rubber. Tubular sheath 40 surrounds the plug attachment 20 inspaced relation to the spring fingers 34 and 35 and has an inwardlydirected end 41 which grips the exterior of the hose 11 and a ring head42 at'its forward end overlying the'rearward end of the ring flange 27,see Figure 4. The terminal end of bead 42 is formed with an annularshoulder 43 spaced rearwardly from the latching shoulders of the detents28 and 29. A cylindrical ring 44 of an antifriction material such asnylon is mounted in an annular recess in the shoulder 43 of bead 42 toprovide an annular bearing face 45 at its outer edge which engages theannular latching shoulder 22 in socket 21 to limit the inward movementof plug 20. Bearing face 45 also cooperates with the detents 28 and 29to latch the plug 20 in the socket 21. The tubular sheath 40 also isprovided with offset bosses 46 overlying the knobs 37 on the springfingers 34 and 35. Thus, the tubular sheath 40 provides a dust coverinclosing the plug fitting 20, but flexes to permit actuation of eitherone or both of the spring fingers 34 and 35 and detents 28 and 29connected thereto.

The conical tapered end of ring flange 27 facilitates the insertion ofthe plug fitting 20 at the end of hose 11 into a socket 21 in the vacuumcleaner casing 10. The

forwardly projecting end of ring flange 27 lies within an are having aradius less than the internal diameter of the annular locking shoulder22. One form of the invention having now been described in detail themode of operation is explained below.

When the end of the h ose 11 is to be attached to the air inlet oroutlet opening in the vacuum cleaner casing 10, the plug attachment 20of the coupling 12 is merely inserted into the proper socket 21. Theforwardly inclined end of ring flange 27 facilitates the centering ofthe end of the plug 20 in the socket 21. During such insertion theforwardly inclined edges 39 of the detents 28 and 29 ride over theannular locking shoulder 22 in the socket'21 to depress the detents intothe ring flange 27 until they clear the locking shoulder. The springfingers 34 and 35 then press the detents 28 and 29 outwardly to latchtheir radial flanges with the annular shoulder 22 in the socket 21.Detents 28 and 29 and nylon bearing ring 44 then engage the oppositesides of the annular shoulder 22 in the socket 21 to latch the end ofthe hose 11 to the vacuum cleaner casing 10 while permitting relativerotation therebetween.

When the hose 11 is to be detached from the vacuum cleaner casing 10,'itis only necessary to depress the upper or lower spring finger 34 or 35in the manner iilustrated in Figure 2 to withdraw its detent 28 fromengagement With the annular shoulder 22 in the socket 21. The weight ofhose 11 projecting from the casing 10 rocks the plug attachment 20 insocket 21 about the other en gaged detent as a fulcrum. As the forwardlyprojecting end of the ring flange 27 has a radius of curvature less thanthe diameter of the annular locking shoulder 22 the end of the plugattachment 20 will clear the socket dur-' ing such rocking movement.After the end of the plug 20 rocks from the position illustrated inFigure 3 to that illustrated in Figure 2, the end of the hose may belifted from the casing 10.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides a couplingwhich facilitates the insertion of a flexible hose into and removal ofthe hose from sockets in a casing. It will also be observed that thepresent invention provides a coupling having spring detents for automatically latching the end of the hose in the sockets of a vacuumcleaner casing and permitting removal by merely disengaging a singledetent. It will still further be observed that the present inventionprovides a coupling which is of simple and compact construction adaptedfor economical manufacture and one which is reliable in operation.

While a single embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of elements without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation in thisrespect the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A coupling device for detachably connecting the end of a flexiblehose to air inlet and outlet openings of a vacuum cleaner comprising aconnecting element at the end of the hose and having locking membersprojecting therefrom at diametrically opposed sides thereof, each ofsaid locking members comprising a spring finger having a hook-shaped endwith an inwardly inclined extension and spring biased radially outwardlyand manually operable radially inwardly, said vacuum cleaner having anannular flange surrounding each air inlet and outlet opening to receivethe connecting element and providing inner and outer shoulders, saidconnecting element being inserted axially into the air inlet and airoutlet openings in the vacuum cleaner and having a shoulder yieldinglyengaging one side of the annular flange form face lying inside of an arehaving a radius less than the diameter of the opening in the vacuumcleaner so that when one of the locking members is manually depressedthe connecting element can be removed from the opening by a tippingmovement about the diametrically opposed locking member engaging theannular flange in the same direction as the locking member is depressedto releasing position, the locking members being adapted for actuationsimultaneously to release the locking engagement of the two lockingmembers to adapt the element to be removed axially, the connectingelement comprising two concentric sleeves connected at the free end ofthe element, the outer sleeve being shorter than the inner sleeve andbeing provided with two diametrically opposed holes spaced from the freeend of the element by the surface decreasing in diameter, the leafspring locking members having one end fastened to the inner sleeve andextending longitudinally of the connecting element between the inner andouter sleeves with the hookshaped ends projecting radially through theholes in the outer sleeve, and a sheath of yielding material surroundingthe inner sleeve and locking members fastened thereto, one 'end of thesheath extending to the outer sleeve and the opposite end providing asupporting n'ng engaging the hose.

2. A coupling device in accordance with claim 1 in which the sheath hasan annular member at its end constituting the shoulder yieldinglyengaging the flange surrounding the opening in the vacuum cleaner andhaving a lower coefiicient of friction than the sheath.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS198,402 Marsden Dec. 18, 1877 2,102,802 Lofgren Dec. 21, 1937 2,248,269Bilde July 8, 1941 2,420,866 Coss May 20, 1947 2,444,888 BaumgardnerJuly 6, 1948 2,516,907 Penfold Aug. 1, 1950 2,799,518 Anderson et al.July 16, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 152,839 Australia Aug. 14, 1953 705,136Great Britain Mar. 10, 1954

